What is BS EN 60118-7— Air-conduction hearing aids about?
BS EN 60118-7 is the seventh part of an international multi-series standard that covers electroacoustics techniques for testing hearing aids.
BS EN 60118-7 gives recommendations for the measurement of the performance characteristics of air-conduction hearing aids of a particular model for production, supply, and delivery quality assurance purposes.
BS EN 60118-7 specifies performance requirements. Conformance to the specifications in BS EN 60118-7 is demonstrated only when the result of a measurement, extended by the expanded uncertainty of measurement of the testing laboratory lies fully within the tolerances specified in BS EN 60118-7extended by the values for Umax given in Table 4.
Note 1: BS EN 60118-7 does not relate to mechanical or environmental tests.
Note 2: BS EN 60118-7 should not be used as the basis for the exchange of information about hearing aid characteristics in general, nor is BS EN 60118-7 intended to be used as a predictor for real-ear performance.
Who is BS EN 60118-7— Air-conduction hearing aids for?
BS EN 60118-7 on air-conduction hearing aids is relevant to:
- Manufacturers of air-conduction hearing aids
- Suppliers and exporters of hearing aids
- Designers of air-conduction hearing aids
- Manufacturers and suppliers of microphones
- Manufacturers of ear simulators
- Audiologists
- Testing authorities
Why should you use BS EN 60118-7- Electroacoustics- Hearing aids?
A hearing aid is a device designed to improve hearing by making sound audible to a person with hearing loss. Electroacoustics assessment of the hearing aids is used for verifying if the performance characteristics of a hearing aid are as per its reference specifications. The hearing aid is a combination of the physical hearing aid and the fitting software which accompanies it.
BS EN 60118-7 describes a test procedure that helps for the measurement of the performance characteristics of air-conduction hearing aids, based on electroacoustics techniques, in which the sound pressure level at the reference point of the hearing aid is kept constant. This helps the users with the procedures for controlling the sound field and establishing test conditions for the hearing aid. BS EN 60118-7 sets a framework for accomplishing the test in an acoustic test box using a pressure-calibrated control microphone, on the assumption that the sound field is homogeneous around the reference point of the hearing aid. BS EN 60118-7 specifies the method which is also designated as the "constant entrance sound pressure method" or shortened "pressure method". It lays out an alternative to the pressure method, which is the storage of a test box frequency response correction curve. This method is designated as the “substitution method.”
Overall, BS EN 60118-7 is useful for the users to manufacture good quality, efficient hearing aids for production that tick all the quality assurance boxes, which can be beneficial for your business.
